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I Make Diamond's Acquaintance 353
the loose topmost sprays of the rose-trees climbing the walls. At first Diamond had a nest under this thatch—a pretty little room with white muslin curtains; but afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Raymond wanted to have him for a page in the house, and his father and mother were quite pleased to have him employed without his leaving them. So he was dressed in a suit of blue, from which his pale face and fair hair came out like the loveliest blossom, and took up his abode in the house.
''Would you be afraid to sleep alone, Diamond?" asked his mistress.
" I don't know what you mean, ma'am," said Diamond. " I never was afraid of anything that I can recollect—not much, at least."
''There's a little room at the top of the house—all alone," she returned: "perhaps you would not mind sleeping there?"
" I can sleep anywhere, and I like best to be high up. Should I be able to see out?"
"I will show you the place," she answered; and taking him by the hand, she led him up and up the oval-winding stair in one of the two towers.
Near the top they entered a tiny little room, with two windows from which you could see over the whole country. Diamond clapped his hands with delight.
"You would like this room, then, Diamond?" said his mistress.
"It's the grandest room in the house," he answered. " I shall be near the stars, and yet not far from the tops of the trees. That's just what I like."
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